Odysseo - More Magic and Horses with Cavalia!

This past week I got to experience the magic of Cavalia once again, this time with there new show, Odysseo.  I took Gibson this time, as Oliver got to see it last year and Gibson was quite devastated that he missed out.  Gibson and I got the royal treatment as we experienced the VIP experience which included a lavish buffet supper, haagen-dazs ice cream, champagne, popcorn and a dessert buffet at intermission.  It was truly a VIP experience and Gibson was over the moon to get not one, but two, chocolate chunk ice-creams!  At first we could not find seats, but a lovely couple of women invited us to join their table.  The Buffet is aimed more at adults, but there were enough items for Gibson to enjoy (he's crazy for shrimp and hummus) so we both were well looked after. Our seats were fantastic and looking at the floor map, I would recommend the Red to Gold seats for a great view.  Red, Pink and Purple are all VIP seating, but the Gold is not for those of you who just want to see the show.  I looked around though, and although some seats are marked as obstructed view, I can't imagine there is a bad seat in that house.  We were certainly spoiled in the centre, but they do a terrific job playing to the whole house.

The show is wonderful!  It's hard for me not to compare it to Cavalia.  I preferred this show as there was a little more variety to it and the tumbling group from West African added a spark and humour that lifted it even more.  Bear in mind, I really enjoyed Cavalia, it's just hard not to compare! It's a circus, but a very high end circus.  It's amazing what these performers can do, both human and animal.  Sometimes they make it look so easy that it is only afterwards that you realize what they did and how incredibly difficult it was. When the West African Tumblers first come in and all of them do 10-20 backflips in a row across the stage it left me open-mouthed in glee!  Gibson kept turning to me yelling, "This is Awesome! Thank you! Thank you for bringing me!" I am pretty sure the tumblers were his favorite.  I had a few favourite moments: I loved the humour of the tumblers, especially with the addition of the high jumpers (you have to see these contraptions they wear!); I could have watched the Carousel forever, it was so beautiful and awe-inspiring; the hoop work blew me out of the water; speaking of water, well, I don't want to spoil it, but it's pretty incredible.  So many wonderful moments.  Hard to count them all.  The horses are still the stars, but they seem to get a little more of a break this show.  I am still so impressed with what they can do. Such smart, talented animals.

Odysseo runs in Edmonton until August 12th. Prices range from $40-$240 depending on seats and package. There are also lower prices for accompanied children.

Cavalia - How Circus should be done - in Style!

I took Oliver to Cavalia for opening night last week.  It's strange, because just a few months earlier was the first time I heard about Cavalia and it wasn't because I heard they were coming to town. It was from a friend who had seen it in Quebec last summer.  She showed me the program and raved about it. Later that week I heard that it was coming to Edmonton, so it seemed fitting that we should go. Based on her description I expected something like Cirque du Soleil but with horses and I thought Oliver was the right kid to take (especially since it was a school night and Gibson had gone to Mary Poppins). I think I made the right choice as Oliver seemed very happy to be there and I think some of the more sophisticated sections would have gone over Gibson's head.

It was really quite wonderful to watch.  Not a traditional play with a story, but a series of vignettes which demonstrate acrobatics, horse skills or a combination of both.  It's gorgeous and filled with sensory stimulation. It's definitely a complete package - acrobatics that make you gasp, horses doing tricks that leave you stunned, gorgeous sets that move and evolve like magic, falling leaves, rich music and costumes and a 'snowfall' that makes you laugh with joy.  It is truly how circus should be done - there is popcorn, candy and pop - but none of the dust and a level of luxury to the show that raises it to a new level. It's 100% spectacle - and although the ads I have heard for it talk of a story about horses and man through the ages, I found it hard to find that in it - but there were so many moments that made me catch my breath and Oliver was totally enthralled.  He wanted to buy the DVD so that we could bring it home to show Gibson, but alas they were sold out.

It's not something that we are likely to see very often as the tickets are on the upper end when it comes to price, but you can see where the money goes in the show as the level of production is very high and not a element seems wrong or skimped on.  Events like these are easily once in a lifetime kinds of shows.

#43 in my 2012 Theatre Goal